Take One's Essential Guide to Canadian Film

Susan Patrick is a librarian at Ryerson University in Toronto.

This fascinating, encyclopedic guide by Wyndham Wise, the editor of Take
One, a major Canadian film magazine, is the most up-to-date and
comprehensive resource to Canadian cinema. Wise covers every aspect of
the subject since its beginning in 1894, with listings by film title,
actor, director, producer, and so forth. An entry for a film includes
credits, a mini-review, and significant awards the film has received. An
entry for an artist include biographical information, career overview,
and a filmography. The reviews and overviews are not merely factual but
critically evaluate the film/artist within the overall context of
Canadian cinema. Not only is the Canadian film industry covered, but
many past and present big Hollywood names from Canada are also included.
Although the preface notes that the guide is a work in progress, very
little of significance appears to be missing (entries for Ruby Keeler
and Waiting for Caroline are the only examples this reviewer could
find).

The guide also includes two appendixes: the first provides a detailed
chronology of Canadian film and television history; the second lists the
winners of Canadian Film Awards (which became the Genies in 1980) dating
back to 1949, and the American Oscar. This excellent guide should be an
essential purchase for any film studies or Canadian studies collection.